plantation tours franklin tn

Top ways to experience Carnton and nearby attractions

plantation tours franklin tn

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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plantation tours franklin tn

Carnton - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Carnton Plantation

Carnton’s grand main house, slave quarters and lovely garden are worth a visit in their own right. But add the plantation’s role as a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin, one of the Civil War's deadliest and most decisive confrontations, and it becomes a must-see. Blood-stained floors, surgical instruments and a Confederate cemetery are just three fascinating aspects of a visit.

Guided tours last 60 minutes.

A combined ticket ($30) allows entry to nearby Carter House , also with Civil War connections.

1345 Eastern Flank Circle

Get In Touch

615-794-0903

https://​www​.boft​.org​/carnton.htm

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum August 1, 2014 in Nashville, TN. It opened in 1961 and preserves the evolving history and traditions of country music.

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

This monumental museum, reflecting the near-biblical importance of country music to Nashville's soul, is a must-see whether you're a country music fan or…

RCA Studio B

Historic RCA Studio B

17.23 MILES

One of Music Row's most historic studios, this is where Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton all recorded numerous hits. The latter did a little…

500px Photo ID: 104144573 - Visit Cheekwood for the tulips

Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art

12.62 MILES

Cheekwood is a botanical garden with an arty inclination, just southwest of downtown Nashville. The numerous gardens combine themes (Japanese, water,…

500px Photo ID: 109216371 - Sunset from the Natchez Trace Highway near Nashville.

Natchez Trace Parkway

10.99 MILES

A beautiful day trip or extended road trip from Nashville, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs for 444 miles through three states until reaching its eponymous…

National Museum of African American Music

National Museum of African American Music

18.12 MILES

The National Museum of African American Music tells the story of the impact that African American culture has had on music around the world, from gospel to…

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE-FEBRUARY 4, 2015:  The Grand Ole Opry is a landmark in Nashville, Tennessee that beckons country music fans from around the world.; Shutterstock ID 252407671; Your name (First / Last): Trisha Ping; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editoria; Full Product or Project name including edition: 65050/Online Editorial/Trisha Ping/Nashville

Grand Ole Opry House

22.75 MILES

This unassuming modern brick building seats 4400 for the Grand Ole Opry multiple times per week. Daytime backstage guided tours are offered every 15…

Double Arch Bridge at Natchez Trace Parkway near Franklin, TN

Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge

For a photogenic view of this graceful double-arch bridge, pull into the Birdsong Hollow overlook, about 4 miles south of the northern terminus of the…

Cumberland Park

Cumberland Park

18.37 MILES

This 6.5-acre park hugs the Cumberland River's eastern bank across from downtown. For kids, there's a climbing wall and an innovative washboard play area…

Nearby Tennessee attractions

1 . Lotz House

Along with nearby Carnton Plantation and neighboring Carter House, Lotz House is the other must-see in the trio of Battle of Franklin historic sites. As…

2 . Carter House

On November 30, 1864, 37,000 men (20,000 Confederates and 17,000 Union soldiers) fought over a 2-mile stretch of Franklin’s outskirts. Sprawl has turned…

3 . Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge

4 . Warner Parks

10.95 MILES

Opened in 1927 and named after two local park commissioners, Percy (the larger) and Edwin (the smaller) Warner Parks are where Nashvillians come to enjoy…

5 . Natchez Trace Parkway

6 . Radnor Lake State Park

It's hard to imagine that this beautiful lake is artificial, but so it is, built by a railway company in 1914 and handed over to public use in 1973. These…

7 . Nolensville

11.13 MILES

A cluster of antique shops and down-home restaurants bring visitors by the carload to the historic district of this bustling hamlet. Hugging Nolensville…

8 . Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art

plantation tours franklin tn

Carnton Plantation Franklin Tennessee

Carnton Plantation Franklin Tennessee was established in 1826. Carnton was the home of Randal McGavock, an early Tennessee pioneer and former mayor of Nashville. At its peak, Carnton Plantation held sway over 1400 acres, eleven slave quarters and 39 slaves.

Carnton Plantation Tennessee Antebellum Trail

In all, nearly 10,000 Americans were casualties at the Battle of Franklin and about three-fourths of that number were Confederate Army. In 1866, 1481 Confederate soldiers killed at Franklin were removed and reinterred at Carnton Plantation where John McGavock donated two acres of land adjacent to the McGavock Family cemetery as a final resting place.

Carnton Plantation Franklin Tennessee

Carnton Plantation offers guided tours every day of the week. The guided tour at Carnton lasts about one hour, and guests should expect to spend another half hour to one hour exploring the grounds and outbuildings.

Visit Carnton Plantation

Carnton Plantation Franklin TN

  • Visit Carnton Plantation online at BattleOfFranklinTrust.org
  • Address – 1345 Eastern Flank Circle, Franklin, TN 37064
  • Phone – 615-794-0903
  • Open – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
  • Closed – New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas

Tennessee Antebellum Trail Tour and Itinerary

For history loving Civil War enthusiasts, the Tennessee Antebellum Trail Civil War Tour sample itinerary will help guide you along as you go from plantation to battlefield and from cemetery to monument.

For all the thrill seeking spooky history fans and fanatics, there is a tour made just for you – the one of a kind Tennessee Antebellum Trail Ghost Tour ! Walk The Hermitage mansion and cemetery grounds by lantern. Conduct a paranormal investigation at Rippavilla. Take a candlelit evening cemetery tour in Franklin. So, if you’re looking for ghosts, you can find plenty of them on the Tennessee Antebellum Trail!

These 13 Historic Tennessee Plantations Will Send You Back in Time

plantation tours franklin tn

Meghan Kraft

Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.

More by this Author

One of the most endearing, pressing artifacts of the south happen to be quite livable – to an extent. Tennessee has preserved a number of plantation homes, boasting gorgeous architecture and dark, dark secrets. Chances are there’s one not too far from you – take a look!

plantation tours franklin tn

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plantation tours franklin tn

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Home / History

Carter House

Location: Franklin

Carter House was built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter. 34 years later, the small brick farmhouse would bear witness to the bloody Battle of Franklin, in which more than 9,500 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or listed as missing.

During the battle, Union Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox made the home his headquarters, while the Carter family along with the Lotz family (who lived in the Lotz House across the street) and several enslaved people hid in the basement. As the battle raged outside, Fountain Branch Carter’s son Tod, who was serving as an aide to a Confederate General, was seriously wounded in combat not far from his family home. He was brought to the house, where he died two days later.

Today, visitors can take a guided tour of the home (as well as Carnton) and explore the grounds and outbuildings as well. Tours last about an hour and depart every 30-40 minutes. A variety of specialized tours on topics ranging from slavery to the battlefield itself are offered throughout the week as well.

Address 1140 Columbia Avenue Franklin, TN 37064

Phone (615) 791-1861

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plantation tours franklin tn

The Moore-Morris History & Culture Center of Williamson County

plantation tours franklin tn

Rippa Villa

Site Designed and Developed by 5by5 - A Change Agency

plantation tours franklin tn

Franklin Battlefield

Set amidst the southern outskirts of Franklin, Tennessee, recently reclaimed portions of this historic landscape and interpretive centers at the Carter House, Carnton Plantation and Cotton Gin Park provide visitors a unique window into this bloody 1864 battle.  A museum is located one block west of the Carter House.

Nashville Union. Camp 729

Tour Nashville and Vicinity in Two Days

plantation tours franklin tn

Franklin Virtual Tour

Franklin battlefield: what's nearby.

Civil War   |   Battlefield Franklin Battlefield Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Historic Site The Carter House Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Historic Site Lotz House Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Historic Site McLemore House Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Historic Site Eastern Flank Battlefield Park Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Fort Fort Granger Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Cemetery McGavock Confederate Cemetery Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Historic Site Carnton Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Historic Site Confederate Memorial Park at Winstead Hill Franklin, TN

Civil War   |   Battlefield Thompson's Station Thompson's Station, TN

Civil War   |   Historic Site Shy's Hill Nashville, TN

Preservation

Save 0.6 acres at Franklin Battlefields.

Save 24 acres at Belmont, Franklin, Nashville and Richmond Battlefields.

The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 181 acres at Franklin Battlefield.

View All Saved Land

Related Battles

IMAGES

  1. Carnton Plantation Battle of Franklin

    plantation tours franklin tn

  2. Carnton Plantation in Historic Franklin, TN

    plantation tours franklin tn

  3. Carnton Plantation, Franklin, Tennessee (Trip 7 Vid 6)

    plantation tours franklin tn

  4. 16 Top-Rated Things to Do in Franklin, TN

    plantation tours franklin tn

  5. Franklin TN Shopping Restaurants and More

    plantation tours franklin tn

  6. Carnton Plantation

    plantation tours franklin tn

COMMENTS

  1. Visit

    Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 791-1861 . Carnton 1345 Eastern Flank Circle Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 794-0903 . Rippa Villa 5700 Main Street Spring Hill, TN 37174 (931) 486-9037 . SITE POLICIES Group Tours ACCESSIBILITY. Plan Your Visit: Tours & Admission. We offer tours seven days a week and walk in traffic is always available. We have capacity on ...

  2. The Battle of Franklin Trust

    Carter House, Carnton, and Rippa Villa are open daily for guided tours. Find everything you need to plan your visit. ... Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 791-1861. Carnton 1345 Eastern Flank Circle Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 794-0903. Rippa Villa 5700 Main Street Spring Hill, TN 37174 (931) 486-9037. [email protected].

  3. Carnton

    Tours last about an hour and depart every 30-40 minutes. A variety of specialized tours on topics ranging from slavery to a behind the scenes look at the home are offered throughout the week as well. Learn More. Address. 1345 Eastern Flank Circle. Franklin, TN 37064. Phone. (615) 794-0903.

  4. Gray Line's Civil War Tour

    Contact Gray Line for reservations and boarding locations. Visit Gray Line's website for tour details and charge. Learn More. Address. 2416 Music Valley Drive #102. Nashville, TN 37214. Phone. (615) 883-5555.

  5. Civil War Tour with Lotz House, Carter House & Carnton ...

    108 1st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201, USA. Open in Google Maps. Tours depart from: Gray Line Ticket Booth at the Riverfront Train Station, 108 1st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201 (off 1st Ave S, across from Acme Feed & Seed). Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to tour start time.

  6. Civil War History Tour

    16 San Diego. 17 Niagara Falls, USA. 18 Everglades City. 19 St. Augustine, Florida. 20 San Antonio. Experience the place where one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War took place: Franklin, Tennessee. Visit three historic Civil War-era homes, hear gripping stories, and get the unique perspectives of soldiers and civilians alike.

  7. TOP 10 BEST Plantation Tours in Franklin, TN

    Top 10 Best Plantation Tours in Franklin, TN - June 2024 - Yelp - Lotz Civil War House Museum, Carnton, The Carter House, Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast, Oaklands Mansion, City of Franklin, Natchez Trace Parkway, Travellers Rest Historic House Museum , Cheekwood, Arrington Vineyards

  8. Carnton

    1,745 reviews. #4 of 87 things to do in Franklin. Speciality MuseumsHistoric SitesBattlefields. Closed now. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Write a review. About. Carnton was built around 1826 by Randal McGavock, an early settler in Middle Tennessee. By the time of the Civil War, Carnton was home to John and Carrie McGavock and it was a large working farm.

  9. Lotz House

    Guided House Tour. Adults $14. Seniors (65+) $12. Children ages 7-13 $6. Children 6 and under Free. Advance reservations are required for the following specialty tours. Please call (615)-790-7190 or email [email protected] to book tickets. Call for Group and Student Rates. AAA Members receive a 10% discount.

  10. Carnton Plantation

    12.62 MILES. Cheekwood is a botanical garden with an arty inclination, just southwest of downtown Nashville. The numerous gardens combine themes (Japanese, water,…. View more attractions. Carnton's grand main house, slave quarters and lovely garden are worth a visit in their own right. But add the plantation's role as a field hospital….

  11. The Civil War Battle Of Franklin Tour From Nashville

    You will spend time in the quaint town of Franklin to shop, eat, and view historic sites on your own. You will begin to understand how the residents of Franklin, the Civil War town of 750 people, emerged from their homes on the morning of December 1, 1864 to find over 9,500 casualties. You will then journey to the Carnton Plantation, ordered to ...

  12. Tennessee Antebellum Trail ⋆ Tennessee Antebellum Trail

    The Tennessee Antebellum Trail is a 90 mile looped trail of historic antebellum homes in the heart of middle Tennessee. The homes on the Tennessee Antebellum Trail are open daily for tours. The Trail begins just outside of Nashville and winds through the heart of middle Tennessee, encompassing five communities and eight beautiful antebellum ...

  13. Carnton Plantation Franklin Tennessee

    Carnton Plantation is located just south of downtown Franklin, Tennessee. There is ample parking at Carnton Plantation and Carter House and both are easily accessible by car, bus or motor home. Visit Carnton Plantation online at BattleOfFranklinTrust.org. Address - 1345 Eastern Flank Circle, Franklin, TN 37064. Phone - 615-794-0903.

  14. 13 Historic Tennessee Plantations

    10. Brabson's Ferry Plantation. Wikipedia. Built in 1856, this Boyd's Creek home is located a bit northwest of Sevierville in East Tennessee. 9. Carnton Plantation. Wikipedia. Home to the largest Confederate graveyard, Carnton Plantation gives Franklin, Tennessee a solid historical depth that stands tall and strong. 8.

  15. Carter House

    Tours last about an hour and depart every 30-40 minutes. A variety of specialized tours on topics ranging from slavery to the battlefield itself are offered throughout the week as well. Learn More. Address. 1140 Columbia Avenue. Franklin, TN 37064. Phone. (615) 791-1861.

  16. Visit Franklin Battlefield

    Franklin Battlefield. See It Now! Set amidst the southern outskirts of Franklin, Tennessee, recently reclaimed portions of this historic landscape and interpretive centers at the Carter House, Carnton Plantation and Cotton Gin Park provide visitors a unique window into this bloody 1864 battle. A museum is located one block west of the Carter House.

  17. FranklinIs

    Historic Carnton Plantation, Franklin, Tennessee. These photos feature Historic Carnton Plantation, located at 1345 Eastern Flank Circle, Franklin, TN 37167. Carnton, built in 1826, was one of the premier farms in Middle Tennessee. On November 30, 1864, the home and the McGavock who lived there found themselves in the middle of one of the most ...

  18. Carnton

    Carnton is a historic plantation home built in 1826 in Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee, United States.The property, comprising 1,420 acres (5.7 km 2), played an important role during and immediately after the Battle of Franklin during the American Civil War. Carnton was situated less than one mile (1.6 km) from the location of the 1864 battle's Union Army eastern flank, and it became ...

  19. 3551 Bailey Rd, Franklin, TN 37064

    Zillow has 52 photos of this $3,299,900 5 beds, 7 baths, 5,390 Square Feet single family home located at 3551 Bailey Rd, Franklin, TN 37064 built in 2022. MLS #2648273.

  20. 211 Waterbury Cir, Franklin, TN 37067

    Franklin, TN 37067. $1,300,000. 4. Beds. 4. Baths. 3,623. Sq Ft. Single Family. ... inviting front porch, & two story entry foyer lead you into this home. Hardwoods, plantation shutters, crown molding, & light filled rooms created a wonderful feel throughout the main level. ... Preferred Tour Date. Preferred Tour Date. Your message Your message ...